Marriage Expectations – Group Discussion

Talk about the different expectations that you had before you were married. (One example of something that wasn’t met and one thing that exceeded your expectations.) How does having an honest discussion about your expectations affect your relationship?

1. Social media and how it gives us an edited picture of how things really are.
2. “Keeping up with the Jones’ ” – comparing ourselves to other couples.
3. Balance between having high enough expectations so we can grow in our relationship, but not be too unrealistic that we are constantly frustrated.
4. Happiness is a choice and it is a skill that we learn and develop over time.
5. Love does not seek its own. What are ways we can serve each other to have the heart of a servant? What does your spouse do that makes you see that they have the heart of a servant?
6. Since getting married, what has been one thing that has changed your understanding of marriage?
7. What are some circumstances and situations in your life/marriage that are difficult to have a positive attitude about?
8. When we think of our spouse as a gift from God, how does this affect the way we think about our marriage?
9. There are many thing you should expect in marriage. Here is a great article from Family Life Today.  Great Expectations For Marriage (click on the link to read the article)Which of the expectations listed in this article did you encounter in your marriage? A lot of these things will happen if you’re married or not, so don’t blame it on your marriage. The great thing is that you have someone to share things with. Ecclesiastes 4
10. Two are better than one,
        because they have a good return for their labor:
    10 If either of them falls down,
        one can help the other up.
    But pity anyone who falls
        and has no one to help them up.
    11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
        But how can one keep warm alone?
    12 Though one may be overpowered,
        two can defend themselves.
    A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
11. 1 John 3:18. “Let us not love with mere words or tongue but with actions. . . . “
12. 1 Corinthians 13